This paper shortly explains the incident and it's environmental and economical consequences. However, the focus is on the political and legal changes that can be seen as a result of the accident. Who was held responsible for the spill? What was the direct response from the Obama Administration and how did the biggest oil spill in history changed policy concerning safety and oil production?
For centuries the oceans are a source for food supply, transportation, security, oil and gas resources. At the same time, human pressure the oceans both from land and see and climate change causes further tension. Ocean governance developed as a response to this. It’s the conduct of the policy, actions and affairs regarding the oceans and is engaged for example with the division of the ocean space and the diverging regulations to control human activity in the oceans. By the middle of the twentieth century there was an impetus to extend national claims over offshore resources. The exploitation fever grow as technology opens new ways to tap the resources of the sea. Especially oil exploration was moving further from land and deeper into the bedrock of continental margins in the late 1960s. The fast development of the offshore oil production needs to be seen in a political context as till the 1970s the United States had been the world’s number one producer of petroleum and American oil companies determined the global price of oil. However, the American demand for oil steadily increased and so did the overall reliance on imports. The “oil shocks” in 1973 and 1979 were the clearest and most painful affirmation of the nation’s vulnerability because of its dependence on import oil. The more oil the U.S. produces itself the more the country can limit its involvement with foreign powers and concentrate on entirely meeting its own energy needs. Offshore drilling and shale oil will provide that quantity of oil and any additional oil production can be used to trade internationally and thereby making the U.S more powerful on the global stage. Dependence on the other hand can threaten U.S. national security and revenues may undermine the efforts to promote good governance. The Gulf of Mexico is one of the most important regions for energy resources and infrastructure for the U.S., both onshore and offshore. One of the key events that caused the onset of major changes was the explosion at the Deepwater horizon mobile offshore drilling unit in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20,2010.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Deepwater Horizon
- Historical Background
- Legal Framework and structures
- The Incident
- The Consequences
- Political and Legal Response
- Responsibility
- Reaction Obama Administration
- Trump and the Future of Offshore drilling
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the political and legal ramifications of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the largest oil spill in U.S. history. It aims to explore the event's context, including the historical background of offshore drilling and the relevant legal framework. Furthermore, the paper will analyze the incident itself, its consequences, and the political and legal responses. Lastly, the paper will delve into the Trump Administration's policies regarding offshore drilling and the future of the industry.
- The historical development of offshore oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.
- The legal framework governing offshore oil exploration and production.
- The causes and consequences of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
- The political and legal responses to the spill, including the issue of responsibility.
- The Trump administration's policies concerning offshore drilling and their implications for the industry.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The paper begins by introducing the concept of ocean governance and its role in addressing human pressure on the oceans. It then delves into the historical background of offshore oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, outlining its development from onshore exploration to deeper waters. The chapter also highlights the regulatory framework, environmental conditions, and technological advancements associated with offshore drilling in the region.
The second chapter focuses on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, providing a detailed account of the incident, its causes, and its immediate environmental and economic consequences. It explores the technical challenges associated with deep-water drilling, highlighting the risk factors involved.
The third chapter examines the political and legal responses to the Deepwater Horizon spill, delving into the issue of responsibility and the actions taken by the Obama administration in the aftermath of the disaster. It discusses the impact of the spill on policy regarding safety and oil production.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The central themes of this paper are the political and legal consequences of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, offshore drilling, ocean governance, environmental impact, regulatory framework, liability, and policy changes. Key figures include the Obama and Trump administrations, as well as key players in the offshore oil industry.
- Quote paper
- Stella Benedickt (Author), 2020, Deepwater Horizon. An Analysis of the Political and Legal Consequences of the Biggest Oil Spill in U.S. History, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1303027
